Durban – A truck driver and his accomplice were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning after they were caught just after stealing a computer box (ECU) from a Freightliner truck parked on Bayhead Road.
The incident happened just before 1 am when police on routine patrol noticed two men moving suspiciously around a parked truck. Sensing something was off, the officers stopped to investigate.
“When the police car stopped, the guys quickly walked away like they were just passing by, but you could tell something was off,” said a nearby truck driver who witnessed the drama unfold.
The officers confronted the suspects and, upon searching them, found one of them in possession of the stolen ECU, confirming their suspicions. Meanwhile, the driver of the targeted Freightliner was fast asleep in his cab, completely unaware that his truck had been tampered with. Police had to wake him up to inform him of the theft.
As officers were taking the suspects away, one of them asked to lock his truck, which was parked not far from the crime scene. It was then discovered that he was actually a truck driver himself, using his break time to commit the crime.
“It’s crazy! This guy was parking his truck here, pretending to rest like everyone else, but he was actually busy stripping someone else’s truck,” the witness added.
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Both suspects were immediately arrested and taken into custody, where they will face charges of theft.
Bayhead Road has long been a hotspot for truck-related crimes, with thieves targeting parked vehicles for valuable parts such as ECUs, batteries, and tyres. Truckers are urged to remain vigilant and, where possible, park in secure areas with surveillance.
SA Trucker commends the patrolling officers for their swift action, preventing yet another trucker from suffering financial losses due to criminal activity.
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